“Oh hell,” Anna muttered.
Andrew
Life really sucked without Lorelei. I had this nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach that was constantly bothering me. The only way I could describe it was to feel like I was being eaten from the inside out. Logically, I knew that I had done the right thing. She had killed someone, possibly many people, and if I didn’t do something, she could continue to kill. It was the only choice I had, so why did it feel like the ultimate betrayal?
“Andrew, the baby really needs something from the bakery,” Sofia said as she walked out of her bedroom rubbing her belly.
I grunted and continued to stare at the wall. My short stint in jail did nothing to ease the guilt I constantly felt. Jack had locked me up while he processed all the information and sent it back to McDowell County. He said it was for a whole list of crimes, but then he just let me go when he was done. It was very anticlimactic, and made me feel even worse. I felt like I should be locked up right beside Lorelei.
“Hey, are you listening? The baby needs his Uncle Andrew.”
I glanced over at her and sighed. “Maybe Joe can take you.”
“No, he can’t,” she narrowed her eyes. “He’s busy.”
I sighed again and stared off into space. I wasn’t sure what would get me up and motivated, but it sure as hell wasn’t some bullshit about needing something from the bakery.
“Fine, I’ll just go by myself.”
I knew what she was doing. She thought that would get a rise out of me, that I would get up and walk her down the stairs. Normally, I would, but I just didn’t have it in me.
Her phone rang and I heard a big sigh as she answered. “Yeah? Oh, hey, Kat…Uh-huh…Oh, no. Really?…Where’s Eric?...Okay, don’t panic. I’ll be right there.”
I turned and frowned. “What was that about?”
“Kat’s having some pains and Eric is still working.”
I jumped up from the couch. “Is she okay?”
“She probably is, but given what happened already, she’s worried.”
“I’m driving,” I said, not even giving her a second to question me.
“What? Now you’re going? So, it wasn’t important when I needed—”
I swooped her up in my arms, cutting her off as she squealed. I marched for the door and opened it, barely missing her head. I didn’t even bother to shut the door. I marched down the stairs, ignoring her protests as I raced out the door and to my truck. I opened the door and very gently set her inside, patting her tummy before shutting the door. For a moment there, I almost forgot about what this part felt like. The fear and uncertainty were overwhelming and all I could think about now was getting to Kat and making sure she was okay, and keeping Sofia safe in the process.
“Pull over here,” Sofia said, pointing to the bakery.
“Now’s not the time for snacks,” I said with a little too much bite.
“I’m not hungry. Kat’s at the bakery.”
I jerked the wheel and pulled to a stop in front of the bakery. Sure enough, Kat’s car was parked out front. I ran around to Sofia’s side and hoisted her up in my arms, ignoring her glare as I carried her inside.
“I can walk on my own.”
“Not now, Princess.”
I searched out Kat, immediately seeing her when she stood. I rushed over to her, knocking over chairs with Sofia’s feet. I got a few nasty glares from the patrons, but none of that mattered.
“Why are you carrying Sofia?” Kat asked in confusion. “I thought I was the injured one?”
“The what?” I asked.
“Remember?” Sofia said, “You just called me and said that something was wrong?”
I glanced at Sofia and then back to Kat. Her eyes brightened and then she hunched over, clutching her stomach. “Oh the pain,” she moaned.
It didn’t sound very real, but I wasn’t about to take that chance. “Where does it hurt? Are you bleeding? Should we go to the hospital?”
“Can you put me down?”
“Quiet, Princess. I’m talking.”
Kat shook her head. “It’s all over.” She clutched her head and then winced. “Yeah, my stomach is just…all in knots.”
“But you just held your head. What’s wrong? Is it a migraine? How bad is the pain?”
“The pain?”
“In your head!”
She nodded. “Oh, right. Yeah, it’s pretty…good. I mean, for a headache.”
“Then what hurts?”
“Uh…huh?”
I sighed heavily in frustration and gently set Sofia down in the chair. I gently pushed Kat down and knelt in front of her. “Quiche-girl, I need you to tell me where the pain is.”
“It’s in her stomach,” Sofia said at the same time that Kat said, “In my leg.”
“Which is it? Your stomach or your leg?” When Kat looked confused, I pulled out my phone and called Eric.
“What are you doing?” Kat exclaimed.
“I’m calling your husband. I don’t know what the hell is wrong and I’m not taking any chances with you.”
“No, you really don’t have to do that,” Kat rushed on. “I’m feeling better already. The pain in my head…and my leg, are so much better.”
“Yeah,” I glared at her suspiciously. “Not risking that.”
The phone rang and rang so long that I really didn’t think he was going to pick up. “What? I’m really busy.”
“Your wife…there’s something wrong with her.”
“What is it?” he asked, his voice panicked, but calm at the same time.
“I’m not sure. I thought it was the baby, but then she said something about her head and her leg.”
“Where are you?”
“At the bakery.”
“Be right there.”
He hung up and I glanced at Kat, concern racing through me. I had this slight feeling that she was pulling one over on me, but after all the complaining they had done about being carted around and watched like hawks, I just couldn’t picture any of them doing this to us. They wouldn’t risk it.
Turning to
